Cambodia has recently banned its citizens from going to Malaysia to work as maids, following reports of abuse, rape and murder in the country.

While NGOs have lauded the ban, critics are saying that a blanket ban -- without the consultation of the Malaysian government -- is "drastic and harsh" as only a minority of Malaysian employers abuse their maids. Jeff Vize, consultant at the non-profit Cambodian League for the Protection and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), begs to differ, saying the ban is necessary to drive the political will of the Malaysian government to take measures to stop the few bad apples.

He attibutes the rampant incidences of human rights abuse to the lack of protection accorded to Cambodian maids working in Malaysia. "With a lack of protection, of specific clear policies, and noone to turn to, a situation like this is ripe for abuse," says Vize in an interview with BFM. According to LICADHO figures, an estimated 50,000 Cambodian women and girls have migrated to Malaysia since 2008.

Vize says weaknesses in Cambodian legislation is to blame as well for failing to protect migrant workers. For example, the recently enacted sub-decree on the migrant labour does not specify minimum wage, working hours or require recruitment agencies to inform workers' families of their whereabouts. Cambodian legislation for migrant workers has also failed to curb human rights issues such as debt bondage, deaths inside pre-departure training centres, the recruitment of underage workers, illegal detention of workers, the facilitation of forged documents, and the failure to pay salaries.

LICAHDO will continue to advocate for the enactment of an MOU between Malaysia and Cambodia on labour exchange, he says.

In the following interview, Vize also talks about what provisions should be made to protect Cambodian maids, the need for heavier penalties towards human rights abuse cases in Cambodia as well as why the maid ban should apply to previously signed contracts in addition to fresh applications.

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